We are considering an independent school for our daughter, who is struggling in the local school. It would mean travelling about 45mins each day to school from home, which would be ok as I work close to the independent school so would take and pick up. My worry is that all my daughter's new friends would live a fair distance away and as she reaches her teenage years and wants some independence she would be reliant on the taxi service of mum and dad (and we have two other children to consider). Just wondering how others handle this.

Hello,I don't have a child in the indep sector but do have two in a grammar that draws from very far and wide.If the school is right then this shouldn't put you off.We have girls who just come and stay for a night or two and vice versa at weekends.Also in the case of my older one -as they get older (she is nearly 15) they are capable of getting trains home now after sleepovers.You will find a way.

No, there isn't. We live in a rural village which does not have any public transport so I would be responsible. I do work part-time and I guess I could only change my job locally or to work at home. I need to find out from the school if there are other children that travel from our area.

Hi there. Most independents (and many Grammar schools) have a wide catchment area. Unfortunately this does mean taxi-ing around DD.

My experience is that once they reach Year 9 they discover both the joys of public transport (which makes them feel grown up as it gives them independence-My DD keeps all her train tickets pinned on her bedroon wall!) and the joys of meeting up in the city centre (i.e. at a central point) rather than in each other's houses.

Also at my DD's independent-although a day school-there are activities there 7 days a week and as it is co-ed it serves as their social hub as much as anywhere else.

joop, that was about my travel time when I was at school, although my parents were lucky to find one other boy from our area going to the same school so at least that cut their lifts quota down by 50%.

I echo what others have said: don’t let this factor put you off. School was 6 days a week and lots of after-school activities so most of my social life revolved around school in any case; we had no direct public transport but could get a train which took us about half-way, cutting down the taxi requirements somewhat; don’t underestimate teenagers’ ability to scrounge lifts/find ways to get places they really want to get to – I had a close friend who was a year older than me who passed his driving test on his 17th birthday so my parents paid him petrol money (plus a little bit more) to pick me up/drop me off a couple of times a week.

DD is now in year 8 at Indie where she knew no one in school so has lots of new friends to keep up with!! our opinion is that it's not her fault how far away her friends are and there would have been similar issues with some of the state schools who have huge intake areas. Actually not too many times doing both drop off and pick up to friends; some times meet other parent half way or share with any other girls. Have noticed how girls seem to socialise in packs so often another parent grateful to take turns.Getting to and from school can be a pain but actually that first year flew by; now we have a lift share with another girl in Yr 8 so only do half the journeys. I'm sure the school will put you in touch with other families near you who I'm sure would appreciate sharing.

Not always possible in remote areas; DDs school has 2 services, neither of which come any where near us! Have asked school to research putting on one in our area but none as yet. Didn't put us off school as we felt it was worth the effort getting her there and are still of that opinion.

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 3 guests

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot post attachments in this forum